Power Rankings: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

text size

There are 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 (seriously) different ways the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship could play out. Thankfully, the 64 golfers at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain will fulfill just one of those possibilities.

Got a fantasy question for Rob? Click here to e-mail him. You can also follow Rob on his Twitter account.

What they will face is officially the longest course on the PGA TOUR. At a listed 7,791 yards, the layout can be stretched nearly 100 yards beyond the total from the tips at Torrey Pines South. However, a glance at the champions proves that the Jack Nicklaus design doesn't necessarily embrace the long ball: Geoff Ogilvy (2009), Ian Poulter (2010), Luke Donald (2011).

It wouldn't be wrong to label any of the three as grinders, just from different angles. Ogilvy could summon clutch putts at will when he was at his peak. Perhaps no one approaches match play with more soul than Poulter. And Donald's world-best short game is like a six-shooter with silver bullets in the format.

Specifically, one's propensity to avoid three-putts and bogeys can help handicap any field in match play. Of course, nothing supersedes momentum and matchups beyond the first round are impossible to predict, so chalk it up as an opportunity to have some fun filling out brackets. Just remember that yours if likely to find its way to the recycle bin faster than its cousin for next month's NCAA Tournament.

While the Official World Golf Ranking of Feb. 12 was used to determine eligibility, the seeds were locked in with the most recent version on Sunday night. Phil Mickelson (family) and Paul Casey (injury) are not participating. Any withdrawals hereafter will be replaced directly by alternates.

Below is my Sweet 16. The top four represent who emerges from each bracket. The next four lost to the top four, and so on. Meanwhile, unlike last year's snow and hail for the final two matches, this week's weather forecast is benign. Sunshine will dominate throughout. High temperatures will flirt with and likely eclipse 80 degrees every day.

WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS-ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY: Bracket | Bracket previews: Jones bracket | Player bracket | Hogan bracket | Snead bracket | Inside the Field | Inside the Course | Complete coverage

Power Rankings: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

Rank Player Comment Rory MCILROY Player bracket. Including his victory at the Shanghai Masters, he has nine top-fives (including two wins) in his last 10 starts worldwide. Bracket wins: George Coetzee, Anders Hansen, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Nick Watney, Luke Donald. Luke DONALD Jones bracket. The defending champ is 16-6 in seven appearances. While off to a rough start in 2012, he missed the cut on the eve of his win here a year ago. Bracket wins: Ernie Els, Peter Hanson, Brandt Snedeker, Thomas Bjorn, Matt Kuchar. Matt KUCHAR Hogan bracket. Third last year. Lost to champ Luke Donald in semis. Inside top 15 on TOUR in both bogey avoidance and three-putt avoidance. Bracket wins: Jonathan Byrd, Bubba Watson, Greg Chalmers, Steve Stricker, Nick Watney (consolation). Nick WATNEY Snead bracket. The ultimate wildcard. With so many flourishes of stringing birdies together in the books, he can't be dismissed despite his recent mediocre form. Bracket wins: Darren Clarke, Tiger Woods, Fredrik Jacobson, Matteo Manassero. Charl SCHWARTZEL Player bracket. Coming out of one of the most volatile halves of any bracket, he'll need to rely on every bit of his taut game. Showcased it in a losing effort at the President Cup, going 3-1-1. Bracket wins: Gary Woodland, Ian Poulter, Jason Day. MATTEO MANASSERO Snead bracket. Exceptional depth but no real favorites in his half of this bracket. Took down a couple of behemoths in Steve Stricker and Charl Schwartzel here last year. Bracket wins: Webb Simpson, Martin Laird, Bill Haas. Steve STRICKER Hogan bracket. The 2001 champ was ousted in the opening round last year by Matteo Manassero. Stricker is now the top-ranked American in the field. Won the season opener at Kapalua. Bracket wins: Kevin Na, Aaron Baddeley, Hunter Mahan. Thomas BJORN Jones bracket. Spoiler alert. Won thrice on the European Tour in 2011. Sits 26th in the world ranking. One of the eight in the field that competed in inaugural edition in 1999. Bracket wins: Francesco Molinari, Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott. Sergio GARCIA Player bracket. Finished fourth in his last appearance in 2010. Owns a 14-6-4 record in the Ryder Cup. Closed out a T4 at Riviera on Sunday with a 64 (two eagles, five birdies). Bracket wins: Miguel Angel Jimenez, Geoff Ogilvy. Hunter MAHAN Hogan bracket. One of world's more in-form touring pros, with six top 10s in last 11 starts. Went 4-1-0 at the Presidents Cup. Currently third on TOUR in three-putt avoidance. Bracket wins: Zach Johnson, Graeme McDowell. Adam SCOTT Jones bracket. Would rank higher if he wasn't 1-3 at Dove Mountain. Shared 17th place at Riviera last week, his first start of 2012. Closed out last year with top 10s in six of his last nine starts. Bracket wins: Robert Rock, Mark Wilson. Bill HAAS Snead bracket. Arrives on the heels of a playoff victory at the Northern Trust Open where he hit just half of his greens in regulation. Ranks fifth on the PGA TOUR in bogey avoidance. Bracket wins: Ryo Ishikawa, Justin Rose. Brandt SNEDEKER Jones bracket. Just his second appearance (0-1, 2008) but it's his first look at the Ritz-Carlton where his greenside game should shine. Fourth on TOUR in scrambling. Finished T17 at Riviera. Bracket wins: Retief Goosen, Kyle Stanley. Jason DAY Player bracket. Gets benefit of the doubt after a balky start to the year (MC-T2-T62). In 2011, ranked seventh on TOUR in Strokes Gained-Putting, third in scrambling and 13th in bogey avoidance. Bracket wins: Rafael Cabrera-Bello, John Senden. Greg CHALMERS Hogan bracket. Second appearance (0-1, 2001). No worse than 16th in three-putt avoidance in each of last four years (currently second). Won twice in Australia at the end of last year. Bracket wins: Martin Kaymer, David Toms. Fredrik JACOBSON Snead bracket. First appearance since 2005. Coming off a T13 at Riviera in his return from torn ligaments in his left thumb. Ranked second on TOUR in 2011 in three-putt avoidance. Bracket wins: Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood.